Our Gathering Discussions
Gathering report:(by a pedar)
The following is a summary of the issues that were discussed in the
gathering:
- we need to have a special sign and logo for our Yalda.
- the idea of buying gifts for teachers for the Chrismas and Nowrooz
was also brought up. it is a good thing that our children practice for
Nowrooz since that would make them feel special about the Iranian new
year. also a discussion took place in regards to the importance of
Chrismas celebration versus Nowrooz, and which one we should advocate.
it was a common feeling among the parents that we should encourage our
children to celebrate Nowrooz in a very special way, since we like to
expose them to good Iranian culture and its values, and part of their
own entity. Nowrooz was further viewed as a path through which our
culture can be introduced and known; things like making peace with
everyone even the ones that we did not like or hated, and celebration
of the true new year with the beginning of Spring and re-wakening of
the mother earth and ...
- the emphasis once again was put on the fact that we ought not to
force our own believes and culture on our children. we unlike our
children have had a different exposure and experience as far as
Nowrooz and the pertaining celebration is concerned. we have to make
peace withing ourselves and accept the reality of the new environment
without having to feel lost or zelous over Iranian culture. just take
the good part of everything and maintain our identity.
Comments
1 (a madar)
He failed to mention that "anAr" (pomegranate) was suggested as the symbol
of Yalda because it is a middle-eastern fruit that is not very well know
by Americans, and is usually present on shabe-yalda. Please comment, and
use your creativity to make a symbol by next Yalda. thanks.
2
3
Please send
your replies and/or opinions regarding this subject to
madar-pedar@surya.eecs.berkeley.edu.
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